Regional lenders continue to launch better 95% LTV mortgage rates outside Help to Buy than most national lenders offer through the government-backed scheme.
Ipswich Building Society has just cut the initial rate on its 95% LTV deal by 0.5% to 4.89%.
And Monmouthshire Building Society has been praised by Moneyfacts for its 95% LTV deal charging 4.60% for the first three years, with no fee.
Both rates are notably lower than the most recent deals launched under Help to Buy, with Aldermore Bank and Virgin Money charging 5.28% and 5.29% respectively for two-year fixes.
But Help to Buy can claim the credit for stimulating lenders to offer better deals at 95% LTV, using private insurance rather than a government guarantee.
The Ipswich deal is a two-year fix aimed at first-time buyers charging 4.89% to 95% LTV, until 31 March 2016.
It then reverts to 5.49%, with an overall cost for comparison of 5.6%.
The new product will be available direct and via selected mortgage brokers.
All Ipswich mortgage products are personally underwritten. Rather than relying on automated credit scoring, Ipswich reviews each application on its individual merits and circumstances.
It charges a non-refundable application fee of £150 and a completion fee of £975.
The drawback with the Ipswich and Monmouthshire deals is that they are restricted to local borrowers.
The Ipswich deal is available for direct applicants in local postcode areas IP, NR, CO, CM, CB and PE, and selected intermediaries in the society's heartland.
The Monmouthshire three-year 95% LTV deal at 4.6% is limited to borrowers living in the society's local lending area, even though many of its other deals are available countrywide.
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